Hey ladies! Quick question: before I went back to work, I pumped about 1-3x/day in addition to feedings to build up my freezer stash. Since going back to work, I can pump there about 3-4x in place of feedings. Do I still need to pump at home on the weekends and such (since my home pumpings were in addition to feeding rather than replacing them), or will my supply be ok by just feeding at home and pumping only at work...? Will my body stop producing the milk it was making for those 1-3 extra pumping sessions while at home...? I'd love to not have to pump at home but if it's going to diminish my supply then maybe it's not a good idea... Thanks!!
If you added pumps to nursing, and you stop adding pumps, then yes, it will lower your supply. Count the total number of feedings and add to the total number you were pumping additionally. That would be the number of times you need to express milk one way or another to maintain the same supply.
Also...if you're pumping 3-4 times during work but you used to nurse 3-4 times AND pump during the same time period at home, then your supply will change based on that too. Can you meet in the middle and just do one extra pump all around instead of the 3 added a day? Then you get a break on the weekend and still have some extra milk?
Also...if you're pumping 3-4 times during work but you used to nurse 3-4 times AND pump during the same time period at home, then your supply will change based on that too. Can you meet in the middle and just do one extra pump all around instead of the 3 added a day? Then you get a break on the weekend and still have some extra milk?
Thanks for the reply!! This sounds good...so you mean just pump once a day on my days off work....?
I would see how much you need to do just to feed lo while you're home, then yes add one pump to that. Just make sure you're pumping the same amount of times at work as you would feed/pump on those at home days. Meaning, if you add that pump on the weekends, you may need to add a pump at work instead of just doing it every 3 hours (Unless you plan to do the extra pump before of after work at home)
Post by HutterFlutter on Feb 14, 2015 12:25:50 GMT -5
I only pump at work in place of missed feedings (every 3 hours). I EBF during the weekend. Come Monday, I eat a big bowl of oatmeal and am able to pump roughly 8-9 oz 3 hours later. Oatmeal really does work!
What kind of oatmeal do you use? I have tried eating oatmeal every morning and I still only pump 2 oz or less after my first pump of the morning (which is about 5-6 oz).
missymaye unless you have over supply an ounce per hour is good!! But to answer the original question any type of oat will work. I've had the same results with steel cut and rolled oats.
Ok awesome! I have been stressed because I am trying to EP and I cannot seem to keep up. He eats about 3 oz every two hours so I am having to supplement.
Post by ninergirl52 on Feb 17, 2015 14:09:12 GMT -5
Fwiw - I make a baked oatmeal every week. It's healthy & a little more exciting than regular oatmeal. I also make energy bites out of oatmeal. Both seem to help w/ my production.
Fwiw - I make a baked oatmeal every week. It's healthy & a little more exciting than regular oatmeal. I also make energy bites out of oatmeal. Both seem to help w/ my production.
Ok awesome! I have been stressed because I am trying to EP and I cannot seem to keep up. He eats about 3 oz every two hours so I am having to supplement.
There's an EP board too! It's not super active but come join.
missymaye feel free to PM me too! I've been pumping/supplementing since week 6 now. We just finally called it quits on our morning nursing since I do suffer from low supply and it was just making everyone frustrated. There are a few other EPers on our bmb too.
Post by littleapplemom on Feb 17, 2015 15:15:34 GMT -5
My supply has definitly gone downsince going back to work, I nurse in am and pm when I'm home and doing 2-30min pumping sessions at work. We've supplemented since LO was about 2 mos which was before I even went back because I wasn't able to keep up but we're still giving him everything I can eek out. I've found oatmeal and lots (LOTS) of water help the most....Milkmaid tea helps too but only if I have at least 2-3 cups a day.
Ok awesome! I have been stressed because I am trying to EP and I cannot seem to keep up. He eats about 3 oz every two hours so I am having to supplement.
um he's eating 3 oz every 2 hours? Is that around the clock or is he sleeping longer at night? Remember avg intake is 25 oz a day, range is 19-30 oz a day. so 3 oz every 2 hours would be 36 oz a day. I'm betting he's getting some extra sleep in there so the total is less than that for the whole day? avg to pump is 1 oz every hour, for 2 oz every 2 hours. Eping is very hard work and a lot of moms struggle to pump enough. why are you trying to ep? It sounds like you were nursing but are changing to eping?
@amyg you are correct, at night he usually does a 6-8 hour stretch and then about a 3 hour stretch after that. I was breastfeeding. However, he was constantly screaming and acting hungry. So I started pumping to see exactly how much he was getting and he is much happier now.
Fwiw - I make a baked oatmeal every week. It's healthy & a little more exciting than regular oatmeal. I also make energy bites out of oatmeal. Both seem to help w/ my production.
Tell me more about these energy bites! Recipe?
Let me know if you can't get this open. So easy & yummy!
I added in some Kind granola clusters last week. It's become my mid-morning snack and I was pumping an ounce-two more than needed for the day. It has gluten free oats, flax, and yummy things like blueberries, peanut butter, or maple:) I eat mine in the car as I'm pumping and driving between customers, but I bet it would be great with yogurt or on top of some ice cream.
Post by ninergirl52 on Feb 25, 2015 9:46:15 GMT -5
calimomof1 - I haven't tried them with flax seed or Brewers yeast (still need to get some of the latter). But I make another kind with Nutella that has flax seed in it. I am going to try adding those to my next batch. Dh & I love these things when we have a sweet craving. They are ridiculously easy to make.
calimomof1 - I haven't tried them with flax seed or Brewers yeast (still need to get some of the latter). But I make another kind with Nutella that has flax seed in it. I am going to try adding those to my next batch. Dh & I love these things when we have a sweet craving. They are ridiculously easy to make.
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